Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company headquartered in Denmark, is planning a nearly 15% expansion of its U.S. work force in 2012.

The company has experienced solid growth over the past five years, with an approximate 10% increase in U.S. staff per year across a number of specialties. This new round of recruitment is expected to start immediately.

"This announcement signals the strength of our business model, the increasing demand for our world-class diabetes products, and the steady output of our robust pipeline,” said Jerzy Gruhn, president of the Novo Nordisk U.S. affiliate. “Expanding will provide us the opportunity to better support current business as well as the right structure to meet the future needs of our customers."

While the pharmaceutical industry as a whole has experienced work force reductions over recent years, Novo Nordisk has continued to experience growth. The company will be recruiting for new positions across the U.S., with the first hires being made in the coming weeks. Beyond the sales team, Novo Nordisk is recruiting for medical liaisons, diabetes educators, and field management positions such as regional directors and business managers. In addition, the company continues to recruit for scientific positions in its new type 1 diabetes research center in Seattle, Wash., and for its manufacturing facility in Clayton, N.C

Jeff Frazier, corporate vice president of human resources, noted, "Novo Nordisk has been recognized on FORTUNE Magazine's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list for the past four years. Our turnover rate is among the lowest in the industry—in part because we invest heavily in training and development programs that are at the top of the industry. But we're also deliberate and careful in building our teams because our success depends on their understanding of and commitment to the patients we serve."

As the company readies for the hiring push, it will hold recruitment fairs in markets across the U.S. A list of upcoming job fairs and available positions can be found here.

Novo Nordisk has a rich pipeline of various therapies and continues to invest heavily in R&D to foster new compounds and develop new treatments. At this time the company has three regulatory submissions under review with the FDA, and several other products in phases II and III clinical trials.